Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Virginia Creeper

For Labor Day, Scott took the three big kids to ride bikes on the Virginia Creeper Trail. I am so proud and impressed with them all, they rode 17 miles. The VCT is gorgeous (I've never been there, but I've seen photos). It's green and lush and country, with tons of bridges. It's very family friendly with ice cream shops and play areas and creeks to stop and explore along the way. Scott rode the entire trail both ways (almost 70 miles) with his dad and brother, Conan, last year. Ever since then we've been wanting to take the kids (the 17 miles they rode was mostly downhill, so they really didn't get tired until the very end).

Given the upcoming start of soccer season which will usurp all of our Saturdays and their recent obsession with bike-riding, yesterday seemed like the perfect time to go. (I really wanted to go too, and waffled about it all last week, doing a couple of five mile biking trials at the gym, but finally decided my pregnant body would not handle sitting on a bike for that long very well. The good news is we're definitely going to make this a tradition, so I'll get in on the action next year.) They brought along Emma and Ben's bikes from home, and Scott rented a tandem bike there that Josh could ride on the back of with him. At first Josh was scared of riding on it (as seen on his face here when they had practiced going around the parking lot a bit before starting the trail), but soon grew accustomed and was all smiles.

Along the trail the kids kept wanting to stop and take photos. Scott said they probably stopped every mile or so for the first half. Here's some of the scenery they enjoyed:

They stopped three different times to get ice cream along the trail but the shops were all closed. (Drat! They got frosties on the way home to make up for it.) They also stopped to play awhile on a playground (Emma must be Monkey Girl Sr.).They took another little break to walk along the Appalachian trail.When I asked them what the best part was, all three had the same answer: climbing on the big rock.

Lori--Your mom gave me a link to your blog! I've enjoyed reading it and catching up on your life! Your kids are darling, and this bike trail looks amazing! You also inpsired me to do a little sewing! I love the cute shirts you made for your girls!

i've never even heard of that trail (the name has already escaped my memory) how fun! So there is a place to rent bikes there? I dont have a bike (or the courage to ride with jackson) but if there was something to rent there i'd love it.

Five people call me mom. They do it like this...

"Mom, are we doing anything tonight?""Mom, I'm still hungry.""Mom, when I grow up I want to be the ninja of fighting and stealth.""Mom, what if the whole world is just a giant pop-up book?""Mom, the most disgusting collection of all would be...a booger collection."